Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Dorian Mode

The Dorian Scale, or mode, is the second of the seven modes. The Dorian modes are comparable to the Major scales – D Dorian, for example, includes the same notes as C Major. The difference is that D Dorian starts from another degree in the scale, the D note (see picture below). It also has a different interval (1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7), which results in a Minor sound. What distinguish Dorian from the Minor scale is only the major 6th interval. It could be said that the Dorian sound is not a dark and "sad" sounding as that of the Aeolian mode.

A famous song in D Dorian mode is “Scarborough Fair”. Modes are common in jazz music and the Miles Davis tune “So What” uses D and Eb Dorian. You can use D Dorian together with the chord progression Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7 and try to improvise in jazz style (Dorian is otherwise used for jazz soloing over especially minor 7th and 6th chords).

Dorian Scales overview
C: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C# / Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Db
D: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, E# (F), F#, G#, A#, B# (C), C#, D# / Eb (F), F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb
E: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E
F: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F# / Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb
G: G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E# (F), F#, G# / Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab
A: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, B# (C), C#, D#, F, F## (G), G#, A# / Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb
B: B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, B

Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Semi-notes: 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2
Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole

Relative keys – Dorian and Major

The same notes can be found in different Major and Dorian scales:

• C Dorian – Bb Major
• C# Dorian – B Major
• D Dorian – C Major
• D# Dorian – C# Major
• E Dorian – D Major
• F Dorian – D# Major
• F# Dorian – E Major
• G Dorian – F Major
• G# Dorian – F# Major
• A Dorian – G Major
• A# Dorian – G# Major
• B Dorian – A Major

If you already know the Major scales, you can easier memorize the Dorian scales by comparing their relative keys. Remember that Dorian starting from the 2nd degree on its Major counterpart. Bb Major starting on C and so on.

Comparison – Dorian and Minor

Dorian is identical with Natural Minor with a raised 6th degree:

• C Dorian (C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb) – C Minor (C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb)
• D Dorian (D, E, F, G, A, B, C) – D Minor (D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C)
• E Dorian (E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D) – E Minor (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D)
• F Dorian (F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb) – F Minor (F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb)
• G Dorian (G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F) – G Minor (G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F)
• A Dorian (A, B, C, D, E, F#, G) – A Minor (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
• B Dorian (B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A) – B Minor (B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A)

Dorian can also be looked on as a Minor Pentatonic with a 2nd and 6th added. Or as a Mixolydian with a flattened 3rd.

The ancient heritage

The Dorian Mode emerged in the ancient Greece together with other modes such as Aeolian and Locrian. The names were taken from regions or people, the latter is true about Dorian. Many believe that Dorian melodies during that era expressed courage and manhood and were singed by young soldiers.

See also harmonizing Dorian scales into chords.

Altered Dorian scales

Relevant scales are Dorian b2 (flat second), Dorian #4 (sharp four) and Dorian b5 (flat five), which all are altered Dorian scales. In addition, there are two Dorian Bebop scales, which includes either a major third or a major seventh interval and the hybrid Dorian Add 5.

Backing tracks

These tracks are based on ii - V - I progressions which are perfect to play Dorian scales over. For example, the first track (D Dorian Swing Jazz), include the chords Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7 which all match the D Dorian scale (click "Show scale" for keyboard diagram), that you can use for improvising.

Track list

D Dorian Swing Jazz

Show scale

C Dorian Jazz Ballad

Show scale